Pain and Aging

Pain is not a normal part of aging. Many older adults think that no one wants to hear about their aches and pains, so they are hesitant to complain or ask for help when they are hurt. If you have pain, it’s best to see your doctor. Don’t dismiss it as a part of aging or think that you just have to live with it. Pain is easier to treat and mange when it’s assessed early.

Source: nia.nih.gov

Additional Pain Treatment Tips

Encourage your older loved ones to be honest when they are in pain. Look for facial expressions or body language that may indicate a level of pain that they are unwilling to discuss. Ask about the pain on a level of 0 (no pain) to 10 (extremely intense pain).

You and your loved one should visit the doctor together to discuss the pain and any prescribed medications. All medication instructions should be followed whether or not the pain is still present. Taking pain medication at regular intervals, rather than just when feeling pain, keeps the medicine level in the blood high enough to drive pain away.